Liquid distribution



Dec. 5, 1944. R. E. BURK ET AL LIQUID DISTRIBUTION Filed Oct. 15, 1941 IN VENTO S S Mm m N T Du R 0 M w n A L A RV ET BR OA. RM

.Patented Dec. 5, 1944 LIQUID DISTRIBUTION Robert E. Burk, Cleveland Heights, and Martval J. Hartig, Cleveland, Ohio, asslgnors to The Standard Oil Compan poration of Ohio (Jleveland, Ohio, a cor- Application October 13, 1941, Serial No. 414,820 14 Claims. ('01. 1377&)

This invention relates to liquid distribution, and more particularly division of liquid where considerable precision is desired, and where the initial liquid supply may be small; and it is among the objects of the invention to provide derivative streams in number and relation as desired, and without being subject to the vagaries of small tubes as commonly employed for dividing. Other objects and advantages will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends, the invention. then, comprises the features hereinafter fully described, and particularly pointed out in the claims, the following description and the annexed drawing setting forth in detail certain illustrative embodiments of the invention, these beingindicative however, of but a few of the various ways in which the principle of the invention may be employed.

In said annexed drawing:

Fig. 1 is a side elevational view of a liquid distributor embodying the invention; Fig. 2 is a s'de elevational view, partly in section, on smaller scale, showing the distributor as in use in the head of a laboratory fractionating column; Fig. 3 is a view analogous to Fig. 1. showing a modification; and Figs. 49 inclusive are side elevational views illustrating the principles of other modified constructions.

In general, the invention contemplates a liquidreceiving surface sufficiently rough to provide capillary thinning and spread and flow of the liquid, and inclining downwardly for flow. and leading to extension strips or diversion projections which divert respective streams to desired points of discharge. The distributing means may be for instance of metal or ceramic material. etc., as desired in any given instance. and the capillary spreading surface may be provided by roughening. etching, or by construction in woven form, etc. Thus, as shown in Fig. l, a liquid-receiving surface 2 of a rounded or preferably hemispherical character is provided, and from its lower portion, or preferably its horizontal great circle, a plurality of extensions or diverting strips 3 project. This may be made of sheet metal, desirably a non-corrodible metal, or with advantage it may be of woven wire or in some instances glass etc. Liquid delivered onto the highest point distributes by the capillary spread on the surface and flows down over the extension projections 3 to discharge from the lower end of each. The extensions 3 may furnish equal surface flow, or they may be respectively of size to proportion the flow as desired to the different points of discharge at 4. Such a device thus may provide a supply of liquid to a plurality of discharge points with precision as desired, and with great efficiency in fractionating columns, supply means for internal combustion engines, etc. where accuracy of distribution, with or without equality in proportioning the streams, is desired. As illustrated in Fig. 2, the distributor is arranged in the head of a vertical concentric tube fractionating column such as to feed a supply of reflux liquid accurately to film down the surfaces of the column where interchange of vapor and gaseous molecules occurs. Vapors to be fractionated, coming from a suitable source, illustratively the boiler 6, pass up through the narrow spaces between the concentric tubes of the column 1, in countercurrent flow to liquid filming down over the tube surfaces as supplied by the discharge extensions 3 of the distributor whose receiving surface 2 receives the liquid directly by the projection 8 which terminates the condenser surface 9, the latter being cooled internally by a cooling fluid introduced by tube connection I0 and discharged by connection I I, whereby vapors coming up from the column form condensate on the condensing surface 5, to flow down in reflux, while residual uncondensed vapors leave the system at connection I2. The distributor in accordance with the present invention, particularly permits diversion of side streams, such as for instance by the diversion extension 3' with its discharge point 4' leading into a side stream take-off tube I3. It will be observed that the various extension projections dividing the down flowing liquid can in such arrangement be respectively dimensioned to proportionately feed the liquid to the fractionating surfaces in accordance with their individual requirement, larger or smaller.

As an important feature of the present invention is the provision of the distributing or diverting extensions leading from the surface upon which liquid flow is established. in some cases the upper part of the construction, for assembly use, may be cut down to a narrow belt of general short cylindrical form In, Fig. 3, with the extensions in, and this may be assembled with a separate hemisphere illustrated at H in dotted lines, Fig. 3, whose top may receive the liquid to flow down and distribute or divide on the discharge extensions 3a. This operates like the form shown in Fig. 1; or it may be substantially assembled and used directly with the lower end 01' a condenser surface such as the condenser surface 9, Fig. 2, as by being pushed up into place thereon to the dotted line t, and in such case the extensions tensions 3! for the 2 lead from the condenser surface to the respective tube surfaces under it which are to be sups plied. This latter arrangement is shown in Fig. 9. Whether the member 2a with its extensions 3a is assembled with the separate hemisphere H or with a condenser surface 9, in each case the liquid received from above distributes over the member 2a and is divided off by the extensions 3 to a plurality of points of discharge.

In cases where the ultimately discharged divisional streams are desired in general linear arrangement rather than in more or less circular arrangement as described foregoing, the distributor instead of being formed into a. generally cylindrical shape may be of flattened character, as in Fig. 4, and here again the liquid may be fed to the receiving portion 2!), to flow down over the roughened or mesh-work surface to the divider discharge extensions 31), of number as desired. We have found that uniformity or evenness of flow from the point 2b to the divider extensions 3b is promoted in such form of device by cutting out portions of the surface, as at C. We have found furthermore, that it is particularly advantageous to combine cut-outs C, Fig. 5. and a laterally spreading layer l5, Fig. 5, as of wire mesh or of ceramic material such as woven glass textile of the character used in chemical filters. Here, the upper tongues of the distributor body, illustrated as made of woven wire screen. are brought together to form the liquid-receiving surface 20, the liquid thence flowing down over the main portion including the layer it and to the dividing projections 30. Where desired, the cutouts may be omitted, and as shown in Fig. 6 the I laterally spreading layer l of textile glass may be extended higher or to the top of the device, and here the liquid-receiving end 2d may be curved around the end of the means which is to supply the liquid fed to the device, as for instance a. condenser 9.. Again, the down-flowing liquid distributes to the divider projections 3d. Along somewhat similar lines, as shown in Fig. '7 one or more laterally extending layers or patches of woven wire lie may be superposed on the distributor body. The liquid-receiving upper end 2e may be curved around the means supplying the liquid feed, and again the down-flowing liquid distributes to the divider extensions 3e. A woven wire patch may be applied in addition to the glass textile if desired, as at 150, Fig. 5.

Woven wire employed for the distributors may satisfactorily be of 50 mesh or thereabout; and for patches advantageously 100 or 150 mesh or thereabout. Any material compatible with the liquids encountered may be applied. Stainless steel is very desirable for use generally.

Forms of the device as in Figs. 4-7 may have their discharge extensions in one general plane if desired, or they may be bent laterally into sets as regards the details described, provided the features stated in any of the following claims, or the equivalent of such, be employed.

We therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as our invention:

1. Liquid distributing means, which comprises a hemispherical woven wire surface, and extension strips depending from the great circle thereof leading to respective points of discharge.

2. Liquid distributing means, which comprises a. rounded mesh-work liquid-receiving surface, and liquid-conducting extension strips depending therefrom leading to respective points of discharge.

3. Liquid distributing means, which comprises a mesh-work liquid-receiving surface having a downward inclination, a mesh-work distributing layer thereon, and extensions leading to respective points of discharge.

4. Liquid distributing means, which comprises a wire mesh liquid-receiving surface having a downward inclination, a woven glass fabric distributing layer thereon, and extensions from said liquid-receiving surface leading to respective points of discharge.

5. Liquid distributing means. which comprises a wire mesh liquid-receiving surface having a downward inclination, and extensions therefrom leading to respective points of discharge.

6. Liquid distributing means, which comprises a mesh-receiving surface having a downward inof planes, or as desired; or these forms may again be rolled up cylinder-wise for use, if preferred.

In some instances, the rounded or domed upper portion of the distributor may involve two layers of mesh, a finer cap 2}, Fig. 8, being superposed upon the coarser body portion 2! which has exdiversion of the divided streams.

As a further refinement applicable to any of the forms of the device, and illustrated for convenience at Fig. 8, a fine mesh band i5! which has short depending tongues extending down part way onto the extensions 3! is advantageous.

Other modes of applying the principle of the invention may be employed, change being made clination, and extensions therefrom leading to respective points of discharge.

7. Liquid distributing means, which comprises a rough liquid-receiving surface, a fine mesh capillary patch on a portion of said surface, and extensions from said surface leading to respective points of discharge.

8. Liquid distributing means, which comprises a rounded mesh work liquid-receiving surface, a

fine mesh cap superposed thereon. a fine mesh band spaced below said cap, and a fine mesh band with short tongues-spaced below said first-mentioned band, and extensions from the rounded liquid-receiving surface underlying said bandtongues.

9. Liquid distributing means, which comprises a rough liquid-receiving surface, extensions therefrom leading to respective points of discharge. and fine mesh patch-tongues on the upper portion of said extensions.

10. Liquid distributing means. which comprises a liquid receiving surface sufficiently rough to provide capillary thinning and spread and flow of the liquid, and extension strips to which said rough receiving surface leads for diverting respective streams to desired points of discharge.

11. Apparatus for distributing liquid which comprises liquid distributing means havin a liquid receiving surface sufficiently rough to provide capillary thinning and spread and flow of the liquid, means for directing the liquid onto said surface, and extension strips directed to desired different points of discharge for taking off respective liquid streams from said receiving surface.

12. Liquid distributing means, which comprises a liquid receiving curved surface of revolution sufiiciently rough to provide capillary thinning and spread and flow of liquid, and extension strips to which said rough surface of revolution leads for diverting respective streams to desired points of discharge, said extension strips being similarly rough, and said surface of revolution being free of projections.

flciently rough to provide capillary thinning and spread and flow of the liquid. means for directing the liquid onto said surface and extension strips directed to desired difl'erent points of discharge for taking ofl. respective liquid streams from said receiving surface.

ROBERT E. BURK.

MARTVAL J. HARTIG.

CERTIFI GATE OF GORRECTI ON.

Patent No. 2,56%058.

December 5, 19%,.

ROBERT E. BUHK, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as fOJ.lOWS: Page 1, secand column, line 51, for the word and that the said Letters Patent should be read with substantially" read --subs titutive lythis correction therein that the same may conform to the record of 'the case in the Patent Signed and sealed this 27th day of FebI- ar A.D. 1915.

Leslie Frazer Acting Commissioner of Fcltiltfi.

flciently rough to provide capillary thinning and spread and flow of the liquid. means for directing the liquid onto said surface and extension strips directed to desired difl'erent points of discharge for taking ofl. respective liquid streams from said receiving surface.

ROBERT E. BURK.

MARTVAL J. HARTIG.

CERTIFI GATE OF GORRECTI ON.

Patent No. 2,56%058.

December 5, 19%,.

ROBERT E. BUHK, ET AL.

It is hereby certified that error appears in the printed specification of the above numbered patent requiring correction as fOJ.lOWS: Page 1, secand column, line 51, for the word and that the said Letters Patent should be read with substantially" read --subs titutive lythis correction therein that the same may conform to the record of 'the case in the Patent Signed and sealed this 27th day of FebI- ar A.D. 1915.

Leslie Frazer Acting Commissioner of Fcltiltfi. 

